U.S. patent application number 10/003275 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-25 for shift control apparatus of automatic transmission and method therefor.
Invention is credited to Kwon, Jun-Eui.
Application Number | 20020098945 10/003275 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19702751 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020098945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kwon, Jun-Eui |
July 25, 2002 |
Shift control apparatus of automatic transmission and method
therefor
Abstract
A shift control apparatus of an auto transmission of a vehicle
and a method therefore, the method comprising steps of:
discriminating whether a shift lever of an auto transmission is
switched from reverse range `R` to neutral range `N`; calculating a
lapse time when the shift lever is set at neutral range `N`, if it
is confirmed that the shift lever is switched from reverse range
`R` to neutral range `N` at the previous step and discriminating
whether the shift lever is switched from neutral range `N` to
forward drive range `D`; and performing a shifting operation with
different shifting oil pressure depending on the lapse time, when
the shift lever is set at the neutral range `N`, if it is confirmed
that the shift lever is switched from neutral range `N` to the
forward drive range `D` at the previous step, wherein the oil
temperature of the automatic transmission of the running vehicle
and the lapse time of the shift lever set at neutral range `N` are
detected to differently control the shifting oil pressure, thereby
reducing shift shock.
Inventors: |
Kwon, Jun-Eui; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONELLI TERRY STOUT AND KRAUS
SUITE 1800
1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
ARLINGTON
VA
22209
|
Family ID: |
19702751 |
Appl. No.: |
10/003275 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
477/174 ;
477/180 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16H 2061/0488 20130101;
F16H 61/0437 20130101; F16H 2061/0485 20130101; F16H 59/72
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
477/174 ;
477/180 |
International
Class: |
B60K 041/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 6, 2000 |
KR |
2000-73887 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shift control apparatus of an automatic transmission of a
vehicle, the apparatus comprising: vehicle operation detecting
means for checking an operational state of a vehicle; shift control
means for calculating a lapse time of shift lever set at neutral
range `N` when a shift lever is switched from reverse range `R` to
neutral range `N` with an input of a signal detected by the vehicle
operation detecting means and outputting a shift control duty
signal to differently control the shift oil pressure lo according
to the lapse time and the oil temperature detected by the vehicle
operation means when the shift lever is switched from neutral range
`N` to forward drive range `D`; and drive means for performing
shifting operations by providing a relevant frictional element with
the oil pressure duty-controlled by a shift control duty signal
output by the shift control means and discharged by an oil
pump.
2. The apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle
operation detecting means comprises: a throttle valve openness
detecting part for detecting the openness of a throttle valve to be
applied when a shift level is determined with the openness of the
throttle valve communicating according to a driver's manipulation
of an accelerator; an output axle revolution detecting part for
detecting revolutions of an output axle of an automatic
transmission corresponding to the running speed of the vehicle; an
engine rotation detecting part for detecting and outputting
rotations of an engine; an oil temperature detecting part for
detecting and outputting the oil temperature of an automatic
transmission; and a shift lever position detecting part for
checking whether the shift lever is set at reverse, neutral and
forward drive ranges `R`, `N`, `D`depending on the driver's
manipulation of the shift lever.
3. A shift control method of an auto transmission of a vehicle, the
method comprising the steps of: discriminating whether a shift
lever of an auto transmission is switched from reverse range `R` to
neutral range `N`; calculating a lapse time when the shift lever is
set at neutral range `N`, if it is confirmed that the shift lever
is switched from reverse range `R` to neutral range `N` at the
previous step and discriminating whether the shift lever is
switched from neutral range `N` to forward drive range `D`; and
performing a shifting operation with different shifting oil
pressure depending on the lapse time when the shift lever is set at
the neutral range `N` if it is confirmed that the shift lever is
switched from neutral range `N` to the forward drive range `D` at
the previous step.
4. The method, as defined in claim 3, wherein the shifting step
further comprises the steps of: discriminating whether the lapse
time, when the shift lever is set at neutral range, is included
within preset time range 1; and setting a shift control duty value
on basis of the oil temperature of an automatic transmission and
Table of the oil temperature map preset at memory and outputting a
relevant duty control signal for a predetermined time if it is
confirmed that the calculated lapse time of the shift lever set at
neutral range `N` is included within the time range 1.
5. The method, as defined in claim 4, wherein the time range 1 is 0
ms<the lapse time of the shift lever set at neutral range
`N`<100 ms.
6. The method, as defined in claim 3, wherein the shifting step
further comprises the steps of: discriminating whether the lapse
time, when the shift lever is set at neutral range, is included
within preset time range 2 after it is confirmed that the
calculated lapse time, when the shift lever is set at neutral range
`N`, is not within the time range 1; and setting a shift control
duty value preset at memory and outputting a relevant duty control
signal for a predetermined time if it is confirmed that the lapse
time of the shift lever set at neutral range `N` is included within
time range 2 at the previous step.
7. The method, as defined in claim 6, wherein the time range 2 is
100 ms<the lapse time of the shift lever set at neutral range
`N`<1000 ms.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a shift control apparatus
of an automatic transmission and a method therefor, and more
particularly to a shift control apparatus of an automatic
transmission and a method therefor to reduce shift shock that
generates when a shift lever of an automatic transmission is
switched from reverse range `R` to forward drive range `D` while a
vehicle is at standstill.
[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In general automatic transmission of a vehicle, a shift
control apparatus determines a target shift level according to all
detected conditions such as running speed of a vehicle, openness of
a throttle valve, and control oil pressure and performs shifting
operations to the target shift stage.
[0005] In the automatic transmission thus constructed, the shifting
operations to the target shift level involve fictional elements and
changing from its operation released state to its operational
state. A shift shock is generated depending on operational states
of those frictional elements.
[0006] Accordingly, a variety of techniques have been developed and
applied to reduce such shift shock. For instance, in order to
reduce the shift shock at the beginning and end of shifting
operations when the shift lever is switched from neutral range `N`
to reverse range `R`, an accumulator is mounted onto a low/reverse
brake, which is an operational element for an oil pressure circuit
of an auto transmission to buffer the oil pressure that is supplied
to the low/reverse brake.
[0007] However, the accumulator has the buffering operation of oil
pressure that is supplied to the low/reverse brake, which means the
accumulator has a slow shift response to release of oil pressure.
If the shift lever of an auto transmission is directly switched
from reverse range `R` to forward drive range `D`, an oil pressure
of a servo-apply (S/A) is added, before oil pressure of the
low/reverse brake is not completely released, to thereby result in
the shift shock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve
the aforementioned problem and provide a shift control apparatus of
an automatic transmission and a method therefor to reduce shift
shock by detecting a lapse time of a shift lever set at neutral
range `N`, when the shift lever is switched from reverse range `R`
to forward drive range `D` and the oil temperature of the
transmission and controlling the shifting oil pressure according to
the detected values as such.
[0009] In order to accomplish the aforementioned object of the
present invention, there is provided a shift control apparatus of
an automatic transmission of a vehicle, the apparatus
comprising:
[0010] vehicle operation detecting means for checking an
operational state of a vehicle;
[0011] shift control means for calculating a lapse time of shift
lever set at neutral range `N` when a shift lever is switched from
reverse range `R` to neutral range `N` with an input of a signal
detected by the vehicle operation detecting means and outputting a
shift control duty signal to differently control the shift oil
pressure according to the lapse time and the oil temperature
detected by the vehicle operation means when the shift lever is
switched from neutral range `N` to forward drive range `D`; and
[0012] drive means for performing shifting operations by providing
a relevant frictional element with the oil pressure duty-controlled
by a shift control duty signal output by the shift control means
and discharged by an oil pump.
[0013] In order to accomplish the aforementioned object of the
present invention, there is provided a shift control method of an
auto transmission of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps
of:
[0014] discriminating whether a shift lever of an auto transmission
is switched from reverse range `R` to neutral range `N`;
[0015] calculating a lapse time when the shift lever is set at
neutral range `N`, if it is confirmed that the shift lever is
switched from reverse range `R` to neutral range `N` at the
previous step, and discriminating whether the shift lever is
switched from neutral range `N` to forward drive range `D`; and
[0016] performing shifting operations with different shifting oil
pressure depending on the lapse time when the shift lever is set at
the neutral range `N` if it is confirmed that the shift lever is
switched from neutral range `N` to the forward drive range `D` at
the previous step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent
from the following description of a preferred embodiment with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block view for illustrating the structure of a
shift control apparatus of an automatic transmission of a vehicle
in accordance with the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates an operational sequence of a shift
control method of an automatic transmission of a vehicle in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to accompanying drawings.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block view for illustrating the structure of a
shift control apparatus of an automatic transmission of a vehicle
in accordance with the present invention, including: a vehicle
operation detecting unit 100 for detecting the operational states
of the vehicle variedly output according to an operational state of
a vehicle; a shift control unit 200 for calculating a lapse time
when a shift lever is set at neutral range `N` if it is confirmed
that the shift lever is switched to neutral range `N` with an input
of data such as openness of a throttle valve, revolutions of an
output axle, engine rotations, oil temperature and position of the
shift lever detected and output by the vehicle operation detecting
unit 100 and outputting a predetermined shift control duty signal
to perform shifting operations with different shifting oil pressure
depending on the calculated lapse time of the shift lever at
neutral range `N` and the oil temperature detected by the vehicle
operation detecting unit 100; a drive unit 300 for performing
shifting operations by providing a relevant frictional element with
the oil pressure duty-controlled by a predetermined shift control
duty signal output by the shift control unit 200 and discharged and
supplied by an oil pump.
[0022] The vehicle operation detecting unit 100 is constructed
with: a throttle valve openness detecting part 110 for detecting
the openness of a throttle valve to be applied when a shift level
is determined with the openness of the throttle valve communicating
according to a driver's manipulation of an accelerator; an output
axle revolution detecting part 120 for detecting revolutions of an
output axle of an automatic transmission corresponding the running
speed of the vehicle; an engine rotation detecting part 130 for
detecting and outputting rotations of an engine; an oil temperature
detecting part 140 for detecting and outputting the oil temperature
of an automatic transmission; and a shift lever position detecting
part 150 for checking whether the shift lever is set at reverse,
neutral and forward drive ranges `R`, `N`, `D` depending on the
driver's manipulation of the shift lever.
[0023] Now, shift control operations of an automatic transmission
of a vehicle thus constructed will be described in detail with
reference to FIG. 2.
[0024] As described above, the vehicle operation detecting unit 100
probes openness of a throttle valve, revolutions of an output axle,
engine rotations, oil temperature and position of the shift
lever.
[0025] Furthermore, the shift control unit 200 performs a shift
control by a preset program with an input of openness of the
throttle valve, revolutions of an output axle, engine rotations,
oil temperature and position of a shift lever input from the
vehicle operation detecting unit 100 to thereby run a vehicle.
(S100)
[0026] In the middle of running of the aforementioned vehicle, the
shift control unit 200 discriminates whether the shift lever is
switched from reverse range `R` to neutral range `N`. (S110)
[0027] If it is confirmed that the shift lever is switched from
reverse range `R` to neutral range `N` at step S110, the shift
control unit 200 begins to calculate a lapse time (t) when the
shift lever is set at neutral range (S120), and, then,
discriminates whether the shift lever is switched from neutral
range `N` to forward drive `D` by the driver. (S130)
[0028] Then, if it is confirmed that the shift lever is switched
from neutral range `N` to forward drive range `D` by the driver,
the shift control unit 200 discriminates whether the calculated
lapse time (t) of the shift lever set at neutral range `N` is
included within preset time range 1 of 0<t<100 ms. (S140)
[0029] If the lapse time (t) of the shift lever set at neutral
range `N` is included within preset time range of 0<t<100 ms,
the shift control unit 200 determines a duty value with reference
to Table of an oil temperature map preset at memory as shown in
Table 1 with an input of the oil temperature of an automatic
transmission detected by the vehicle operation detecting unit 100
and outputs an initial PCSV. A duty control signal for the preset
time with a duty value.
1TABLE 1 Oil T .ltoreq. 0.degree. C. 0.degree. C. .ltoreq. T
.ltoreq. 30.degree. C. 30.degree. C. .ltoreq. T .ltoreq. 60.degree.
C. 60.degree. C. .ltoreq. T .ltoreq. 100.degree. C. 100.degree. C.
.ltoreq. T temperature T Duty value 50% 40% 30% 30% 30% (Dr)
[0030] However, if the lapse time (t), when the shift lever is set
at neutral range `N`, calculated at step S140 is not included
within time range 1 (0 ms<t<100 ms), the shift control unit
200 discriminates whether the lapse time (t), when the shift lever
is set at neutral range `N`, calculated at step S120 is included
within the preset time range 2 of 100 ms<t<1000 ms.
(S200)
[0031] If it is confirmed that the previously calculated lapse time
(t), when the shift lever is set at neutral range `N`, is included
within the preset time range 2 of 100 ms<t<1000 ms, the shift
control unit 200 outputs the preset initial PCSV-A duty control
signal to the drive unit 300 for a predetermined time. (S210)
[0032] The drive unit 300 is duty-controlled by a duty control
signal output by the shift control unit 200 to control oil pressure
to perform shifting operations from the current range to a driver's
desired range, thereby completing shifting operations.
[0033] When the shift lever is switched by the driver's
manipulation to neutral range `N` and forward drive range `D` while
the vehicle is driven at reverse range `R`, a shift control duty
signal is differently output depending on the oil temperature of
the running vehicle and the lapse time of the shift lever set at
neutral range `N`. Therefore, it is possible to differently control
the oil pressure of the drive unit 300, so that the shifting
operations can be performed without any shift shock even when the
shift lever is switched.
[0034] As described above, there are advantages in the shift
control apparatus of the automatic transmission and its method in
accordance with the present invention in that the oil temperature
of the automatic transmission of the running vehicle and a lapse
time of the shift lever set at neutral range `N` are detected to
differently control the shifting oil pressure, thereby reducing a
shift shock and improving a shifting function and convenience of
the automatic transmission.
* * * * *